Q: 74 year old nursing home resident male is diagnosed with liver abcess which is about 4 cm in size. Appropriate antibiotics have been started. Percutaneous catheter is placed for drainage. How long catheter should stay in place?


Answer: 

Percutaneous drainage is usually the first line of management, particularly in patients with low funtional status. Surgical intervention is required only for cysts greater than 5 cm, ruptured cysts, or multiloculated cysts. The catheter is flushed daily until output is less than 10 cc/day or cavity is demonstrated to be collapsed by serial imagings.